Unbeatable Energy bring the drums beats to Channel 4 TV!
Unbeatable Energy bring the drums beats to Channel 4 TV!
Watch Steve Rivers’ APPEARANCE on Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch
This month I was live on air on Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch sharing the joy of drumming with the nation!
The experience was amazing and I can now put in my record book the shortest drum workshop ever delivered – 40 seconds!
Watch the interview and drum workshop here – and join in with the beat!
In the interview, I talked to Steph about the therapeutic benefits of group drumming. 🪘
Steph’s Packed Lunch programme is just that – a programme packed full of different current affairs and discussions, so the challenge was to summarise what is a very broad subject into 3 minutes. ⏱️😯
In the interview, I talked about the way drumming can make us feel energised, release stress and calm the mind.⚡
I mentioned different groups we have worked with, such as:
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Work teams, where the experience of drumming gives colleagues a chance to interact in a real way – particularly remote teams who normally interact with each other through a video screen.
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Bereavement groups, where the social and empathic experience of group drumming helps people cope with their sense of grief and loneliness.
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Neuro-divergent group, where the drumming experience can help participants gain confidence in social situations.
Then came the 40-second workshop! Yes – you really can have a group playing a rhythm within seconds.
Fortunately, I already knew a rhythm which everybody could play instantly.
The rhythm is normally called ‘Clave’ and while its origins are from the beats of Cuba and African Highlife, this pattern is played in many popular tunes in Western culture.
In the programme, I chanted it as ‘Let’s..All..Play…The.Drums…!’
Very soon the whole TV studio was playing the beat – the presenters; the studio audience and even the broadcasting team!
It amazes me how immediate drumming can be! You wouldn’t think it in the clip, but almost every person who participated said they had no rhythm. By the end of the 40-second workshop, they were amazed at what they’d been able to play in such a short space of time. It just goes to show how accessible and inclusive drumming is and what a powerful activity it can be in bringing people together.
While TV studios are a high-energy, ‘full-on’ environment, it was such a fantastic experience and one which I would love to repeat on a future occasion!
If you would like to organise a drumming workshop for your team, or community group, why not give us a call? We would love to tell you more! Contact us here or call us on 0114 274 7527 / 07810406501.
The Benefits of African Drumming - Is It Worth Learning?
The Benefits of African Drumming - Is it worth it?
The Benefits of Drumming
Drumming isn’t just a creative outlet; it’s a journey towards personal growth and well-being. We’ve been providing African & Samba drumming workshops across the UK for over 25 years, and we’ve helped thousands of people experience the amazing benefits drumming brings.
In this article, we’re going to dig deep into all the exciting ways drumming can boost your physical health, mental well-being, and emotional balance. Let’s discover the power of the beat!
The Physical Benefits of Drumming
Drumming goes beyond making music; it actively contributes to a healthier lifestyle. Let’s explore the physical benefits drumming can bring:
Drumming is A Cardiovascular Workout in Disguise
When you play the drums, you’re giving your heart a workout in disguise. The rhythmic patterns and physical movements involved in drumming get your heart pumping, similar to a cardio session. This enjoyable activity promotes blood circulation and strengthens your cardiovascular system over time.
Tune Up Your Motor Skills
Playing the drums requires coordination between your hands, fingers, and feet. This coordination stimulates your brain’s neural pathways, leading to improved motor skills and enhanced hand-eye coordination. Drumming isn’t solely an artistic expression; it’s a practice that hones the connection between your mind and body.
Drumming Boosts Your Immune System
Believe it or not, drumming can actually give your immune system a boost. The repetitive motion and vibrations produced by drumming stimulate the release of endorphins. By engaging in drumming sessions, you’re supporting your body’s defenses and overall well-being.
Samba and African drumming is particularly bass-y. If this interests you, learn more about our drumming classes.
Drumming: A Key to Mental Wellness
When it comes to our mental and emotional well-being, drumming can genuinely make a positive difference. Let’s dive into how it brings positivity to our minds:
Find Your Zen: Stress Reduction through Drumming
Drumming sessions can be your sanctuary for stress reduction. The rhythmic patterns and beats actually act as a form of powerful meditation, allowing you to enter a state of mindfulness and relaxation.
Enhance Your Focus and Concentration
Drumming demands focused attention and concentration. As you immerse yourself in the rhythm, you’ll notice an improvement in your ability to stay present and maintain focus. This enhanced focus can have a positive impact on various aspects of your life, such as work.
The beats and rhythms also allow you to tap into your emotions and let them flow freely. This cathartic experience can be liberating, promoting emotional well-being and providing stress relief.
Drumming: The Beat of Emotional Balance
Drumming is a transformative journey towards emotional balance and self-discovery. Let’s explore how it can support your emotional well-being:
Drumming Helps Boost Your Confidence
Through drumming, you’ll develop a sense of mastery and accomplishment. As you progress and refine your skills, your self-confidence will naturally improve.
Drumming often brings people together, creating a sense of community and connection. By participating in drum circles or group sessions, you’ll forge meaningful relationships and build social skills. The supportive environment will provide a space where you feel a true sense of belonging.
Resilience through Rhythm
Drumming fosters emotional resilience by offering a healthy outlet for stress, anxiety, and other challenging emotions. As you channel your emotions into the rhythm, you’ll find a constructive way to navigate difficult times. This resilience will empower you to face life’s obstacles with strength and determination.
What Is A Djembe? - African Instruments
What Is A Djembe? - African Instruments
What is a Djembe drum?
The djembe is one of the most well-known drums from Africa. You will hear its captivating rhythm throughout the continent.
Originally hailing from West Africa, this drum holds deep roots within the Manding tribes of Mali, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. These tribes share an intricate cultural and historical bond, intertwined through their language, music, and annual cultural events.
Centuries ago, the ancestors of these tribes were citizens of the great Mali empire, whose heyday was in the 14th Century during the rule of Mana Musa.
What does a Djembe drum look like?
The djembe drum has unique and distinctive appearance. It features an hourglass body carved out of a single piece of hardwood, such as lenke, djalla, or dougouba.
The drum’s body is hollowed out and covered with a drumhead made of goat or cow skin, which is secured to the body with a system of ropes or cords.
The drumhead is traditionally tightened using a process known as “wedging,” where ropes are threaded through holes around the drum’s body and pulled tightly to achieve the desired tension. This allows for a wide range of tones and sounds to be produced when the drum is played. In addition, the djembe drum often features skillfully crafted carvings and decorations on its body, serving as a testament to the artistry and cultural significance of the communities that create and cherish this instrument.
These intricate designs can hold symbolic meaning, representing cultural motifs, ancestral spirits, or other elements that hold great importance within the community’s identity. The adornments add a touch of beauty and cultural depth to the djembe drum, making it not only a musical instrument but also a visual expression of tradition and heritage.
African Drumming Workshops
Experience the vitality and creative freedom of playing African drums with Unbeatable Energy’s nationwide drumming classes. African drumming workshops are an amazing way to energise, unwind and strengthen your relationships. We offer drumming workshops for corporate icebreaker events, school events, higher education and host regular evening classes in Sheffield.
What does the Djembe sound like?
The sounds produced from the versatile Djembe drum are incredibly diverse; from dry, high-pitched tones to deep, booming bass. The bass tones resonate with a rich and full-bodied presence, providing a solid foundation for the rhythm, whereas the open tones are bright and clear, cutting through the air with their distinct and melodic character.
Each slap delivers a sharp and percussive sound, adding a lively and rhythmic texture to the music. Whether played softly or with vigour, the djembe drum’s sound carries an unmistakable presence that can uplift spirits, create a sense of unity, and transport listeners to the heart of African musical traditions.
What Are Dunduns? - African Drumming
What Are Dunduns? - African Drumming
What do the Dundun drums sound like?
The dundun drums possess a distinct and powerful sound that adds depth and rhythmic complexity to West African music. When played, the dununba, sangba, and kenkeni produce a layered ensemble of catchy tones. You will rarely see a professional Djembe group in West Africa without the Dundun drums.
These drums possess remarkable strength and drive, producing an irresistibly energetic and infectious, funky sound which makes it virtually impossible not to move when their beat dances through the air!
What are the Dundun drums?
The dunduns (or dunun) are a family of cylindrical African drums. They are traditionally played along the djembe and provide a deep bass to accompany the rhythms.
Contrary to the expectation of maintaining a steady and uniform beat, the dundun drums, in fact, generate intricately syncopated patterns that add remarkable depth and complexity to the music. There are three distinct types of dundun drums.
The largest one is known as the Dundunba, which produces deep and resonant tones. The middle-sized drum is called the Sangba, providing a balanced sound.
Lastly, the smallest drum is referred to as the Kenkeni, offering higher-pitched notes. Contrary to the djembe which is played with one’s hands, these drums are played with a thick stick.
Traditionally, they would be played sideways with one hand playing the head with a stick, while the other hand plays a bell attached to the top of the drum’s shell. You can even have multiple musicians playing various complimentary rhythms on each of the three dunduns.
In some cases, one musician might strap all three drums together and play them combined!Centuries ago, the ancestors of these tribes were citizens of the great Mali empire, whose heyday was in the 14th Century during the rule of Mana Musa.
What do the Dundun drums look like?
Similar to the djembe, dunduns are crafted from a single piece of hollowed wood, shaped into a barrel form. These drums have two sides, but only one side is played at a time using a stick or mallet. In Guinea, dunduns typically feature sturdy and thick cow skin as the drumhead, while in countries like Mali, lighter goat skin is commonly used.
African Drumming Workshops
Experience the vitality and creative freedom of playing African drums with Unbeatable Energy’s nationwide drumming classes. African drumming workshops are an amazing way to energise, unwind and strengthen your relationships. We offer drumming workshops for corporate icebreaker events, school events, higher education and host regular evening classes in Sheffield.
Drumming can teach us a life skill - less effort and more trust.
Drumming can teach us a life skill - less effort and more trust
Time and time again my djembe drum practice reminds me to find an easy effortless approach to other aspects of my professional life. In addition to developing skills in listening and improving emotional well-being, there is a particular effortless grace from djembe drum technique which can offer an important life skill - sometimes success is achieved by doing less rather than more.
A djembe is a like small trampoline for your hands. It has its own power and resource of energy to do a lot of the work for you. When your hands are relaxed and you let them fall, their bounce helps to lift your hands to play a second beat – effortlessly. The process of eliminating excessive effort in playing develops over time and with practice. A sense of trust is required when you let the hands fall without worrying about how or where they land on the drum. Often beginners to djembe have a tendency to ‘hold on’ and control their hands, creating tension as they make a strike on the drum. Learning to release tension and developing trust in your hands will result in navigation from one point in a rhythm to another with little physical effort.
With this approach, I try to apply what I have learnt from practising djembe technique to other areas of my work.
As a drumming facilitator, part of my role is instructing others in technique and rhythms. How I deliver those instructions matters.
For example, when I teach drumming to very young children, I find their ability to play is increased when I give fewer instructions. Quite simply I try and talk less; tune in to their childhood excitement of drums and then pass out simple instructions – just a few at any given time. I find we get the same result as when I give out more instructions but with less tension and more fun for everyone involved.
Equally, when I’m in a situation where I’m training or supervising someone in my team, I am aware of the dangers of micro-management – overloading someone with instructions. I have learnt over the years to trust my colleagues more and allow them to find their own methods and solutions. Colleagues, like children in a class, will learn best by doing some things by themselves with my support.
Have you ever found some things in your work or life that seem to become more difficult the more you try? And that when you go back to something you find a simple solution which seems easy and effortless. And that this less-effort approach is better for your well-being and for the well-being of those around you?
What about your experience of teaching or managing others? We would love to hear from you if you would like to discuss this topic further. And perhaps at your next Staff Leadership or Team Development Day, the group drumming activity could provide a powerful reminder to trust yourself and your team!
Visit our contact page if you would like to talk to us.
What Is A Repinique? - Samba Instruments
What Is A Repinique? - Samba Instruments
What is a repinique?
A repinique (otherwise known as ‘repique’) is a metal-shelled Brazilian drum known for its loud pitch. You’ll often spot this boisterous instrument front and centre of a bateria (samba band) as it leads the sound of samba through the energetic Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo Carnivals.
‘Repinique’ comes form the Portuguese word meaning ‘to call’ and it is traditionally used by the head of the samba band. If you’re lucky enough, you might even be treated to an improvised solo!
What does a repinique drum look like?
Usually tall and relatively thin, the repinique drum is carried using a shoulder strap and ranges from around 8 to 12 inches in diameter. It can be played with one stick and a bare hand (often seen in Rio-style samba), or with two wooden sticks for producing rapid, energetic rhythms.
Samba drumming workshops
Learning how to play the repinique can be a rewarding and enriching experience. At Unbeatable Energy, we’ve shared our love for samba with communities, schools and businesses from across the UK for almost two decades! Get in touch today by clicking the button below to learn more about our nationwide samba drumming classes.
What does the repinique drum sound like?
The repinique is a loud, high pitched drum without any snares. This produces a bright, clear sound that rises above the rest of the Bateria. Check out our video below of Steve Rivers leading an energised group of students at a school workshop!
What Is A Tamborim? - Samba Instruments
What Is A Tamborim? - Samba Instruments
What is a Tamborim?
The tamborim (not to be confused with a tambourine) is a small hand-held drum used by Brazilian samba bands. This instrument packs a powerful punch with its high and sharp sound and it is usually played with a whip stick to create fast cross-rhythms that give samba its characteristic groove.
Expert tamborim players have the ability to perform advanced techniques, such as flipping the drum mid-pattern and delaying a note to create a ‘shuffly’ swing rhythm. This is called Virado which means ‘Twist’ in Portuguese.
What does a tamborim look like?
Small, round and circular in shape, the tamborim is around 6 to 8 inches in diameter with a shallow depth of 1 or 2 inches. The drum is typically made using metal or wood and has a tightly stretched drumhead made from a durable material such as plastic or animal skin.
Despite its small size, the tamborim plays a vital role in producing the energetic and vibrant sounds that are characteristic of samba music.
Samba drumming workshops
For almost two decades, we’ve been spreading the rhythm and joy of samba to communities, schools, and businesses all over the UK. During our classes, you’ll also get a chance to experience the surdo and repinique drums.
Get in touch today by clicking the button below to learn more about our nationwide samba drumming classes.
What does the tamborim drum sound like?
The tamborim drum produces a sharp and high-pitched sound that is distinct and recognizable in samba music.
When struck with a whip stick, the tightly-stretched drumhead creates a crisp, bright tone that cuts through the mix of other percussion instruments in the band.
The tamborim’s sound is crucial to the complex and intricate rhythms of samba music, and it adds depth and energy to the overall sound.
When played together with other instruments in a samba band, the tamborim’s unique sound contributes to the lively and vibrant atmosphere that is synonymous with this genre of music.
What Is A Surdo Drum? - Samba Instruments
What Is A Surdo Drum? - Samba Instruments
What is a surdo drum?
The surdo is a large cylindrical bass drum used in Brazilian music, mostly in samba and other Afro-Brazilian rhythms such as Samba-reggae/Axé. It is worn around the waist or strung from the shoulders as surdo bands march through the streets during festivals and carnivals.
What does a surdo drum look like?
The cylindrical surdo drum varies in diameter from 40cm to 73cm. In Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil, they are typically 60cm deep, however, in other parts of Brazil they can be as shallow as 50cm.
Generally, the outside of the surdo is made from wood, fibreglass or aluminium whereas the head is made from a thick and durable material such as goatskin or plastic.
Samba drumming workshops
Grooving with a samba group can be a fun and enriching experience, even if you’ve never picked a drum in your life. At Unbeatable Energy, we’ve shared our love for samba with communities, schools and businesses from across the UK for almost two decades! Get in touch today by clicking the button below to learn more about our nationwide samba drumming classes.
What does the surdo drum sound like?
The sound of the surdo is characterized by a deep and powerful low-frequency tone, which provides the rhythmic foundation for samba. The drummer can play a variety of patterns and rhythms on the surdo, using different techniques with the mallet or beater to produce a range of energising sounds, from short and staccato to long and sustained.
It is really satisfying to play. Each vibrational beat resonates through your body. Check out our video below of Steve Rivers leading an energised group of students at a school workshop!
Drumming Up Connections: The Surprising Correlations Between Hobbies and Work
Drumming Up Connections: The Surprising Correlations Between Hobbies and Work
If you’ve participated in one of our drumming teambuilding sessions, perhaps at a conference or a staff away day, you were, I hope, buzzing with the experience.
And, I hope, you were amazed at what a group could achieve through the power of the team, when everyone congregates and becomes musical together through the beat of the drum.
Alternatively, while the experience was a lot of fun, perhaps you may have found yourself thinking what was it all for?
We’ve all been there – in another creative team-building session, wondering what this has to do with our actual daily work.
In the case of Drumming Workshops, there’s the obvious concept of using music to demonstrate how your colleagues can work effectively together, but can such an activity offer some deeper learning to enhance the quality of normal routines.
That’s what I’m exploring in this blog post.
Is Dabbling A Worthy Cause?
I’m writing this in late February.
It is a difficult time of year if you live in the northern hemisphere, as the weather is still cold and, for most of us, that New Year, new approach buzz that you began with in January starts to waver a little.
Did you take up a hobby? Are you still doing it?
If you are, that is fantastic news and I hope it is giving you a new exciting experience to enrich your work life balance.
But maybe you gave it a real go for a few weeks; enjoyed it and then things in life got in the way and it dropped out of your weekly schedule.
If that’s the case, don’t fret – you won’t be alone!
It’s often very difficult to jump back into that new hobby, even if it was a great experience. Which begs the questions, if the hobby didn’t turn into a consistent practice, was dabbling at all worth it?
Do we still gain something from a one-off ‘try out’?
I think that when we try out new hobbies or participate in fun staff activities, the learning can become more profound over time.
New experiences create fresh neural pathways in your brain which can boost your sense of creativity as you make connections between experiences and things you do in your life.
Finding these connections can give you a deeper understanding and sense of purpose in your daily working routine. Trying a new hobby, even if it only lasts a short while, can reinforce skills and resolve problems in seemingly unrelated aspects of your life.
Correlations & Amplifications…
Recently, I’ve had various revelations about the way entirely different activities have emboldened my line of work.
I have a fun job as a drumming teacher and music facilitator.
It is extremely rewarding, but, like any job, it presents challenges. Like many people, I have dabbled with other hobbies particularly during my middle-age years.
These have included: juggling, yoga, running, baking, fungi foraging, chopping wood and meditation.
Often these things have seemed like disparate activities fighting for first place in my internal list of options of what to do in my free time.
However, I have recently experienced strong connections between some of these activities and it has become an exciting revelation to discover their correlations.
Here are a couple of examples…
When I’ve practised yoga, I’ve become aware of the various poses that involve a sense of focus on body sensation. The Mountain Pose is a good example. It is a simple standing posture where you focus on the sensation of the entire soles of your feet making contact with the ground.
This, for me, has a direct correlation with learning African Hand Drumming technique and the way you rely on the sense of touch and sensation in the hands to guide your point of contact on the drum.
Improving technique in either of these disciplines relies more on how things feel rather than what you can see.
Another correlation is with juggling.
I have dabbled with juggling on and off for nearly 30 years. Having recently started teaching my daughter, I have become aware of the different optical skills which come into play.
As you juggle, there becomes two ways of seeing – the ‘targeted’ point where you focus your sight (the point where the ball reaches its optimum height) and the peripheral seeing where you see your hands catch the balls in the corners of your gaze.
Where is the correlation between this and drumming?
Just as there are multiple ways of seeing involved in juggling, there are multiple ways of hearing involved in playing the African Drums, which involves polyrhythmic music played in groups.
The real challenge is to be able to keep your rhythm together and ensure that it stays in time with the other rhythms being played.
You can only do this by adopting different types of hearing. You are listening to the part you are playing, yet at the same time you develop a softer ‘passive’ hearing of the other rhythm patterns.
Like the peripheral vision in juggling, this doesn’t pay too much attention to the detail of other patterns but hears them enough to form an impression of how they fit with what you are playing.
The Aha Moment
A friend of mine, who for many years has been involved in learning and development, describes this experience of finding analogies between seemingly disparate things as the ‘Aha Moment’.
Experiencing this ‘Aha Moment’ can feel like a profound revelation.
As though a light has switched on in your head when all of a sudden, a connection you have made gives your life a new sense of meaning and purpose.
This can reinvigorate and bolster our mindful dedication to the different activities and skills in our lives – whether it is in work or hobbies and interests.
So, to go back on the original question – is it worth ‘trying something out”?
Is it worth organising the Team Building activity, even if some of the employees at the time do not quite ‘get it’?
My opinion is… absolutely!
Without being open to trying new experiences, we deny ourselves this opportunity discover those ‘Aha Moments’ which can enhance our lives and can improve the way we apply ourselves to skills and abilities.
You never know, you may even discover a new hobby you really love!
Have any of you readers experienced this ‘Aha’ moment – where you find a link between the different skills and hobbies you practise in your life?
Perhaps you have discovered a link after attending one of our Drumming Team Building Events or found it from another team building activity, hobby or skill.
If so, I’d love to hear about them – head over to the contact page to let me know!
School Drumming workshops - February is Samba Carnival Time!
School Drumming workshops - February is Samba Carnival Time!
For us, mid-February means one thing - Samba season! This week the streets of Rio and other cities across Brazil are buzzing with the unmistakable sound of the biggest carnival in the world. We love to recreate the magic of the Brazilian carnival atmosphere here in the UK and many of our school clients choose this month as the perfect time to book our Brazilian Samba Drumming workshop.
Take a look at the fun these primary school children had when we visited their school:
The vibrant colours, costumes and rhythms of the Brazilian carnival parades are like no other experience! The amazing carnival coincides with the Christian calendar before Lent. One of the highlights of the week is the Mardi Gras event; otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday, and as many of your school children will know as ‘Pancake Day’. We love pancakes in the UK, but how amazing must it be to live in a country that celebrates this day with drumming, percussion, singing and dancing!
Our Samba Drumming workshops offer a fantastic way to bring school geography topics to life. As well as being a fun, energising musical experience, it’s a brilliant way to explore South American culture and discover the way countries use music and rhythm to celebrate important events in their calendar.
Just like our African Drumming workshops, Samba offers children a different way to experience music using teamwork to create polyrhythms. Would you like a day of Samba drumming at your school? We’re now taking bookings for the summer term and have a few slots remaining for this term.
